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Samsung's new Galaxy Fold smart phone which features the world's first 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display that works with the next-generation 5G networks is seen in this image released in San Francisco, California, U.S. February 20, 2019. Courtesy Samsung/Handout via REUTERS

SAN FRANCISCO/LONDON (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Wednesday unveiled a nearly $2,000 folding smartphone in a bid to top the technology of Apple Inc and Chinese rivals and reignite consumer interest amid slumping sales.

The Galaxy Fold will go on sale on April 26 and take advantage of new and faster 5G mobile networks. The device looks similar to a conventional smartphone, but then opens like a book to reveal a display the size of a small tablet at 7.3 inches (18.5 cm).

The device "answers sceptics who said that everything that could be done has been done," DJ Koh, chief executive of Samsung Electronics, said at an event in San Francisco. "We are here to prove them wrong."

Samsung remains the world's largest smartphone maker with nearly a fifth of global unit sales but underperformed a slumping market last year. Chinese rival Huawei Technologies Co Ltd - whose Mate series of phones also command premium prices - gained market share. Other Chinese makers like Xiaomi Corp have also been increasing prices, leaving Samsung to defend its turf against upstart rivals in addition to its longtime foe Apple.

With the foldable phone, Samsung is going on the offence on two fronts in the smartphone race: It is offering an eye-catching new feature with the big, bending screen and the first 5G connection in a premium phone, a feature analysts do not expect Apple to match until 2020.

Samsung is also making improvements to its flagship Galaxy S devices and plans to offer a 4G version of its folding phone.

It also challenges the notion of what a phone can cost, debuting at nearly twice the price of current top-of-the-line models from Apple and Samsung itself.

Patrick Moorhead, founder of Moor Insights & Strategy, said the new folding device could help Samsung stay at the top and lure consumers to upgrade devices that have looked largely the same over the past five years.

"Samsung and Apple go back and forth" to lead the premium smartphone market, Moorhead said. "I think this is Samsung's chance to take back the innovation crown."

And even though the $1,980 starting price is steep, some dedicated Samsung fans said they would pay it. Navneet Kumar Singh, a Samsung enthusiast from India who travelled to San Francisco to watch the launch, is ready to place his order.

"The prices of the flagship models have been a little aggressive in India," he said, "But in the end, if you invest the money you're getting a different experience."

Samsung also introduced several accessories to compete against Apple, including a pair of wireless headphones called Galaxy Buds. The headphones include wireless charging, a feature that Apple has promised to put into is competing AirPods but has not yet released.

Samsung also said that its new Galaxy phones will be able to wirelessly charge its headphones and new smartwatches by setting the accessories on the back of the phone.

10 TIMES FASTER

Along with the folding phone, Samsung also added new cameras and a 5G version to its Galaxy series of phones.

Verizon Communications Inc will be the first carrier to offer service for Samsung's 5G phones. The networks are expected to be 10 times faster than current ones, improving viewing of live news and sports events.

With the 5G versions of its flagships, the Korean electronics maker looks to have beaten Chinese rivals in the 5G race, although the device will operate only on the small number of networks launching later this year. Apple is not expected to release a 5G smartphone until late 2020.

The new networks are not available in many places yet but will roll out this year and next. Consumers who want to hold on to their phones for several years before upgrading may be tempted to buy a 5G phone now so that it will be able to take advantage of those networks later, said Bob O'Donnell of TECHnalysis Research. That could sway some Apple buyers over to Samsung and other Android makers with 5G devices.

"People are going to be thinking about, am going to be able to use this a year from now? Two years from now? Three years?" he said.

Rival smartphone makers are expected to announce 5G models at next week's Mobile World Congress, the industry's top annual event, in Spain.

Samsung said its 5G handset would be available in the early summer.

The Galaxy 10 series needs to appeal to consumers who are reluctant to upgrade for only incremental technological improvements in performance.

All of the Galaxy series of rigid phones except the 5G will be available from March 8, with the S10+ priced from $1,000, the S10 priced from $900 and the smaller S10e from $750.

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2.4 GHz make you infertile according to many physicians all over the world.

Scientists requested the total shutdown of ALL microwave technology in the US as early as 1971 due

to the well known dramatic health issues in both humans and animals !

Going to 25-100 GHz is an assault on every being in the range of the network !

That's proven science and available to anybody who wants to know anything about it.

... but it's just so much fun to use your fancy iPhone or iPad or what ever mobile device.

They are just all killing you [and all of us] - slowly but steadily !!!

i am more concerned about breathing the air in Chang Mai or Bkk. Or getting hit by some crazy car/bike driver.

There is a lot of misinformation on mobile phones and health issues; we could spend hours trading links to support either side but will never change each other's minds, so i won't bother. It's a bit like religion or what you believe about climate change.

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With an MSc in Microwave Engineering from UCL (London University) and years of experience in the design of microwave and millimetric systems, I almost wet my pants with laughter when reading your post

RF (radio frequency) waves can be harmful to humans and other living organisms. It depends on the operating frequency, length of time of exposure to the RF and (especially) the power density (strength) of the RF power that the organism is exposed to, (which is affected by the directionality of the radiating antenna and how close to the radiating source the organism is).

RF is used in the medical profession to reduce the size of tumours, or as a means to encourage the rapid recovery of damaged muscles.

The power density radiated by mobile phones is - to use a technical term - bugger all, and unless you stick the radiating antenna close to your eyeball and chat for an hour - the medical risk is also BA.

If microwave and/or millimetric radiation is so dangerous, how come I'm still healthy after years on working on high power RF systems??

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With an MSc in Microwave Engineering from UCL (London University) and years of experience in the design of microwave and millimetric systems, I almost wet my pants with laughter when reading your post

RF (radio frequency) waves can be harmful to humans and other living organisms. It depends on the operating frequency, length of time of exposure to the RF and (especially) the power density (strength) of the RF power that the organism is exposed to, (which is affected by the directionality of the radiating antenna and how close to the radiating source the organism is).

RF is used in the medical profession to reduce the size of tumours, or as a means to encourage the rapid recovery of damaged muscles.

The power density radiated by mobile phones is - to use a technical term - bugger all, and unless you stick the radiating antenna close to your eyeball and chat for an hour - the medical risk is also BA.

If microwave and/or millimetric radiation is so dangerous, how come I'm still healthy after years on working on high power RF systems??

5G will be a revolution and will propel mankind forward to achieve things we never thought possible.

You can't stop progress and it will happen even if there are health concerns.

The main one being the frequencies being used and the fact that those frequencies don't pass through walls etc very well.

Therefore there will be a lot more towers everywhere.

Science will advance so quickly with 5g in the next 25 years, so that will counter any health negatives. In fact any health problems caused by 5G will paradoxically be cured by the access to 5G